Well pump



Aug. 7, 1934- R. I. PENbLETON WELL PUMP Filed Sept 26, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE 4/ 7 4/ nn-I l I [9040/7 fiend/e/o/v A TTORNE YS Aug -7, 1934- R. I. PENDLETON WELL PUMP Filed Sept. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Z @W INVENTOR.

90/,0/7 pend/e/on Patented Aug. 7, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to pumps of the gas lift type utilizing compressed gas for elevating water, oil and like liquids from earth wells. In certain respects the invention can be considered as an improvement of the inventions disclosed and claimed in Pendleton Patent 1,589,551, granted June 22,1926, and 1,846,435 granted February 23, 1932.

In my aforesaid Patent 1,589,551, I have disclosed a gas pump utilizing valve means located below the oil level in the well, which is automatically actuated in response to varying fluid pressures to which it is subjected. Movement of the valve means to one operating position serves to permit inflow of oil from the well in a displacement chamber, while movement to another operating position serves to interrupt flow of oil from the well and effect displacement ofthe trapped oil towards the surface of the well, by gas under pressure. The particular form of valve means disclosed and claimed in my Patent 1,846,435, utilizes separate ball checks for controlling fiow of oil from the well into the displacement chamber, and for controlling admission of gas under pressure.

It isan object of the present invention to further improve upon pumps of the above character, and more particularly to so construct the valve means as to preclude possibility of certain valve parts from sticking or from improperly seal ing to shut ofi the gas flow. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid pump of the intermittent gas type which can be readily installed in place of present sucker rod pumps.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the above character which can be used where conditions are not favorable tothe. use of other pumping equipment, and which can be employed to produce oil wells having relatively low pressure heads.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, in transverse cross section, illustrating a gas pump incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional detail, illustrating the valve means of Fig. 1 in a different operating position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, in cross section, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

surface thereof, there is a string of piping 12,

which in this particular instance serves as an oil flow passage thru which oil is elevated to the surface of the well. Below the lower end of piping 12, there is a pipe section 13, which is connected to piping 1-2 by a special coupling 14. Below the pipe section 13, there is a further depending pipe section 15, thru which oil from the well may flow upwardly into the pipe section 13. A suitable packing, illustrated diagrammatically at 16, serves to close the space between the inner piping and the casing of the well and this space forms a passageway 17 extending down from the surface of the well for flow of a suitable compressed gas.

The interiorof pipe section 13 forms what can I be termed a displacement chamber'18. Coupling 14 is provided with anopening 19 serving to establish communication between piping 12 and the displacement chamber 18. Positioned within the displacement chamber 18 there is a valve body 21 which carries various movable valve members as will be presently explained.

The lower portion of valve body 21 is associated with the seat ring 22, and the passage 23 thru this seat ring establishes communication between chamber 18, and the lower pipe section '15. The annular seat 24 formed upon ring 22, is adapted to cooperate with a movable valve member 26. I prefer that valve member 26 be semi-spherical in form so that it will seal more effectively upon its seat 24. It,will be noted that valve body 21 is provided with a space 27 to permit valve member 26 to move between open and closed positions, and that this space has free communication with dis placement chamber 18, thru openings 28.

The upper portion of valve body 21 is provided 110 with a space 31, which can be termed a gas chamher. This space is in communication with the space 17 between pipe 12 and the well casing 10, thru a passageway 33 formed in. coupling 14. Disposed within gas chamber 31 there is a valve member 34 of spherical form, which is adapted to rest upon a supporting ring 36. It will be noted that ring 36 is provided with ports 37, and is also provided with an upper conical face 38 upon which the valve member 34 can seat.

Below the gas chamber 31 the valve body 21 is provided with a bore 39, which is alined with the vertical axis of valve member 26, and with the axis of the conical seat 38. Slidably fitted within bore 39, there is a tube 41, the lower end of which is secured to valve member 26. The upper end of tube 41 isprovided with a valve seat 42 adapted to cooperate with valve member 34, when the tube is elevated by upward movement of valve member 26. Tube 41 forms a gas passageway 43, the upper end of which communicates thru seat 42, and the lower end of which is in communication with displacement chamber 18, thru ports 44.

The pump described above operates as follows:--The pump is of course installed in such a manner that the displacement chamber 18 is a substantial distance below the normal level of oil within the well. Likewise the space or passageway 17 between the piping 12 and the casing 10, is connected to a suitable source of gas under pressure at the surface of the well, as for example a source of compressed air or compressed natural gas. Nowtaking a cycle of operation beginning with inflow of oil from the well, the pressure of oil from the well exerted upon the lower side of valve member 26, is sufficient to move this valve member upwardly against the gas pressure tending to urge the same downwardly. Such unbalanced into the displacement chamber 18. Oil flowing inwardly from the well fills displacement chamber 18, and the oil level may rise to a considerable distance within pipe 12. As the rate of inflow decreases, due to the fact that the oil is seeking its natural level, a condition is reached when the fluid force of the gas pressure acting downwardly upon ball 34, is suflicient to urge tube 41 and valve member 26 downwardly to closed position, against the inflow of oil. It will be noted that during the initial closing movement of valve member 26 no flow of gas can occur downwardly thru tube 41. During the latter part of this closing movement, valve member 26 closes off the major flow of liquid, before it is in engagement with seat 24. As valve member .26 closes, gas pressure flows downwardly thru tube 41 from gas chamber 31, thru ports 44 and into the displacement chamber 18. The displaced liquid is elevated and caused to flow upwardly thru pipe 12. While the liquid is being displaced by flow of gas, the pressure of oil upon valve member 26 is again increasing. Likewise gas pressure in displacement chamber 18 tends to decrease somewhat, due to a dissipation of gas flowing upwardly thru pipe 12. After a time a condition is again reached when the fluid pressure of oil upon the under side of valve member 26 is sufiicient to unbalance the gas pressure, and again forces this valve member to open position.

Certain desirable characteristics of the invention described above will be apparent. Because of the arrangement of seat 42 upon tube 41, and because this seat rises and falls, it will not be subject to accumulations of sediment and foreign material and will always form a positive seat upon the ball 34. Likewise positive seating and effective sealing is promoted by virtue of the fact that ball 34 is not closely confined, and cannot under any circumstances stick in either open or closed positions. It is important tohave an effectivecut-oif of gas during intervals when oil is flowing into the displacement chamber, for the reason that escapement of gas pressure into the body of the oil at this time, may cause serious emulsification where the oil is mixed with water.

In Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive I have shown a modification of my invention, which is particularly adapted for converting a standard sucker rod pump installation, into a gas lift installation. In this case piping or tubing 50, represents the usual tubing extending down into a well in a sucker rod pump assembly, and which has the usual pump barrel 51 secured to its lower end. Pipe 52 represents the lower end of a macaroni string which is extended down into the well in place of a sucker rod. Secured to the lower end of the marcaroni string 52, there is a valve body 53, to the lower end of which is secured a tapered portion 54. Tapered portion 54 seats upon the upper end portion of barrel 51 to form an effective seal. The lower portion of the space or pas sage between tubing 50 and macaroni 52, forms a displacement chamber 55, and valve body 53 is also formed to provide a gas chamber 56. It is of course to be understood that displacement chamber 55 is merely an extension of the passageway between tubing 50 and macaroni 52, while gas chamber 56 is merely an extension of the gas flow passage thru macaroni 52. The lower portion of valve body 53 is formed to provide a cage 57 within which the oil control valve member 58 is disposed. This valve member is similar to the valve member 26 of Fig. 1. Tube 59 is secured to valve member 58, and extends upwardly thru the bore 61. A stationary seat 62 cooperates with the valve member 58. Positioned within the gas chamber 56, and normally resting upon the support ring 63, there is a ball valve member 64. Support ring 63 is provided with ports 66, and valve member 58 is provided with ports 67 communicating with the passage thru tube 59. The upper end of tube 59 is provided with a seat 68, similar to seat 42 of Fig. 1, to cooperate with ball 64. A perforated pipe section 69 can be interposed between gas chamber 56 and the passage extending down thru macaroni 52, to preclude passage of foreign material.

The operation of the modification described above with respect to Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, is substantially identical with that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, in that the valve members 58 and 64 are operated intermittently in response to varying fluid pressures. The macaroni 52 is connected to a suitable source of gas under pressure at the surface of the well, and oil displaced is caused to flowupwardly between the tubing 50 and the macaroni.

In converting a standard sucker rod pump installation to incorporate my invention, in accordance with Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, it is only necessary to remove the standard sucker rod and pump plungers, and introduce my valve assembly secured to the lower end of the macaroni string 52. The valve assembly is lowered to such a position that tapered portion 54 seals upon the upper end portion of the pump barrel 51. If desired the standing valve at the lower endofthe pump barrel can likewise be removed, although if desired it can be left within the well. While my pump is operating the valve member should of course be below the normal level of oil within the well. In the event the natural head of the well falls below such a value that the mechanism will not operate properly, tubing 50 and macaroni 52 are merely lengthened to lower the mechanism to a proper position for further operation. In this manner wells can be pumped and successfully produced, where other pumping mechanism would be inefiective.

I claim:

1. In a liquid well pump of the gas type, piping extending down into the well and serving to form separate gas and oil fiow passages, said gas flow passage having communication with a substantially uninterrupted source of gas under pressure at the surface of the well, the pump being also formed to provide a gas chamber communicating with the lower end of the gas passage and with a displacement chamber communicating with the lower end of the oil passage, a movable valve member serving to control flow of oil from the well into said displacement chamber, and means serving to control flow of gas from said gas chamber to said displacement chamber, said last means including a valve seat movable together with said valve member, and a second gas flow control valve member cooperating with said seat.

2. In a liquid well pump of the gas type, piping extending down into the well and serving to form separate gas and oil flow passages, said gas flow passage having communication with a substantially uninterrupted source of gas under pressure at the surface of the well, said pump being also formed to provide a gas chamber communicating with the lower end of the gas passage and with a displacement chamber located below the gas chamber and communicating with the lower end of the oil passage, a movable valve member serving to control flow of oil from the well into said displacement chamber, and means for controlling communication between said chambers, said means including a tube movable together with said valve member, a valve seat carried upon one end of said tube, and a second valve member arranged to cooperate with said seat, whereby when said first valve member is in closed position gas is free to fiow from said gas chamber to the displacement chamber thru said tube, and when said first named valve member is in open position flow of gas thru said tube is interrupted by engagement of said 'seatiwith' said' second valve member.

I 3. In a liquid Well pump' of the gas type, piping extending down into the well and serving to form separate gas and oil flow passages, said gas flow passage having communication with a substantially uninterrupted flow-of 'gas under pressure. I i

at the surface of the well, the pump-being also formed to provide agas chamber, communicating with the lower end of the gas passage and with a displacement chamber located below the gas chamber and communicating with the lower' end of the oil -flow passage, a movable check valve member serving to control flow of oil from the well into said displacement chamber, and

means serving to control a flow of gas from the gas chamber into the displacement chamber, said last means including a valve member located within the gas chamber, means supporting said last named valve member whereby it may be lifted vertically, a tube secured to said first named valve member and extending upwardly to a point below said second named valve member, and-a valve seat formed upon the upper end of said tube and adapted to cooperate with said second named valve member, the lower end of said tube having communication with said displacement chamber, said tube being so proportioned, and the second ,named'valve-member being so positioned normally with respect to the upper endof said tube, that when said first named valve member is in closed position, gas from the gas chamber is free to flow thru said tube to the displacea ment chamber, and when said first named valve member is in open position, said tube is raised to aposition to lift the second named valve member to thereby interrupt flow of gas therethrough.

4. In a well pump of the gas type, a tubing adapted to extend downwardly into the well, a conventional sucker rod pump barrel secured to the lower end of said tubing, the upper end of said barrel being provided with a tapered socket, a string of macaroni adapted to extend down into the well within said tubing, a tapered portion secured to the lower end of the macaroni string and adapted to fit within said socket to form a fluid seal, said macaroni being adapted to be connected to a source of gas under pressure at the surface of the well and the space between the macaroni and'the tubing being adapted to form a passage for upward flow of liquid, and means 

